Multi-compartmental winch device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus positions a boat having a clip attached to a bow onto a boat trailer. The apparatus is used with a winch and two guides mounted on the boat trailer. The two guides are positioned a selected distance from the winch toward the rear of the boat trailer and spaced apart from each other. The apparatus includes three line sections windable about a reel of the winch with two of the line sections being windable about the reel in one direction and the third line being wound in an opposite direction. The two lines that are wound on the reel in the same direction extend around the guides while the third line extends between the guides and all of the lines being connected to each other at their distal ends. Forward movement of the boat engages the clip with the lines such that the boat can be winched onto the trailer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for securing aboat to a trailer. More particularly, the present invention relates to amethod and apparatus where one person can secure a boat to a trailerwithout having to leave the boat.

Boating, whether with family and friends or by yourself, can be anenjoyable experience. However, at the end of the day, the pilot mustmaneuver the boat onto the boat trailer, which can be a difficult task.

Especially when boating by oneself, securing the boat onto the trailercan be difficult. The pilot of the boat typically must first secure theboat to a dock, a pier or a pylon and exit the boat and position thetrailer into the body of water so that the boat can be guided onto thetrailer. After positioning the trailer into the body of water, the pilotthen must get back into the boat, unsecure the boat from the dock, thepier or the pylon and proceed to align the boat with the trailer.

After positioning the boat proximate the trailer, the pilot typicallymust maintain control of the boat while having to exit the boat andenter the body of water to secure a clip attached to a linewound on awinch to an eyelet typically welded to the bow of the boat. This taskcan be difficult for a number of reasons including extremely cold watercausing discomfort to the pilot, wind causing the boat to drift out ofalignment with the trailer and even forcing the boat away from thetrailer, and waves causing the boat to drift while not secured to thetrailer.

Once the pilot of the boat has secured the clip to the eyelet on the bowof the boat, the pilot must then manually operate the winch to draw theboat further onto the trailer while maintaining alignment of the boat.Maintaining alignment of the boat during the process of securing theboat to the trailer may be difficult due to the external forces on theboat such as wind and waves. Not being able to align the boat on thetrailer may cause the boat owner significant frustration and delay inattempting to secure the boat to the trailer, and ultimately towing thetrailer and the boat from the body of water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes an apparatus for positioning a boathaving a clip attached to a bow. The apparatus is used with a winch andtwo guides mounted on the boat trailer. The two guides are positioned aselected distance from the winch toward the rear of the boat trailer andspaced apart from each other. The apparatus includes three line sectionswindable about a reel of the winch with two of the line sections beingwindable about the reel in one direction and the third line being woundin an opposite direction. The two lines that are wound on the reel inthe same direction extend around the guides while the third line extendsbetween the guides and all of the lines being connected to each other attheir distal ends. Forward movement of the boat engages the clip withthe lines such that the boat can be winched onto the trailer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat trailer having the winch systemof the present invention attached thereto in an engaging position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a boat trailer having the winch systemof the present invention attached thereto in a securing position.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a guide of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the distal ends of a left line,a middle line and a right line of the present invention in an engagingposition.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the present invention having aboat secured to the winch system and positioned proximate the winch.

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the winch system of the presentinvention having the clip on the boat engaging the distal ends of thelines.

FIG. 7 is a partial top view of the winch system of the presentinvention having the boat engaging the lines and being propelled ontothe trailer.

FIG. 8 is a partial top view of the present invention having the boat ina secured position on the trailer.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the winch system of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a front end loader that is positionablewith two winch systems of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a scraping blade with the winch systemof the present invention used to adjust a height of the blade.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the winch system of the presentinvention used to load a dumpster onto a flat bed truck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A winch system of the present invention mounted to a boat trailer isgenerally illustrated in FIG. 1 at 10. The winch system 10 allows oneperson to secure a boat 12 to a trailer 14 without having to exit theboat 12 during the process of positioning the boat 12 on the trailer 14as best illustrated in FIGS. 6-8.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the winch system 10 includes a winch 16having a reel 19 with at least three partitioned compartments, a leftcompartment 18, a middle compartment 20 and a right compartment 22separated by left and right partitions 28 and 30. The winch 16 ismounted to a tongue 15 located at a proximal end 57 of the trailer 14.

Proximal ends of a left line 32 and a right line 34 are coiled about theleft compartment 18 and the right compartment 22, respectively, of thewinch 16 in a first rotational direction. A middle line 36 is coiledabout the middle compartment 20 in a second rotational direction,opposite the first rotational direction. By line is meant either acable, cord, wire made of natural or synthetic (such as plastic)materials or metal or combination thereof including but not limited to asingle filament or strand, braided filaments, strands, or fibers,fibrillated or twisted line, or simply twisted fibers. All that isrequired of the line is the appropriate tensile strength for the tasksuch as pulling the boat onto the trailer and sufficient limpness of theline to be coiled onto the reel of the winch.

Distal ends 38, 40, and 42 of the left line 32, the right line 34 andthe middle line 36, all respectively, are connected to each other suchthat each of the lines is under tension and not slack. The distal end ofthe middle line 36 includes a loop 44 onto which smaller loops of thedistal ends 38, 40 of the left and right lines 32, 34, respectively, areconnected.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 9, the distal ends 124, 126 of the leftand right lines 118, 120, respectively, may be fixedly secured to thedistal end 128 of the middle line 122 and may include a segment 130connecting the left and right lines 118, 120. The segment may beconstructed of line or a rigid material such as metal or plastic.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the left and right lines 32, 34 are guidedby left and right guides 46, 48, that are mounted to left and right sidemembers 56, 58 of the trailer 14, respectively. The left and right sidemembers 56, 58 are separated by cross members 60, 61 and 62 to providestrength and stability to the trailer 14. The left and right guides 46,48 are mirror images of each other and therefore only the right guide 48will be described in detail.

Referring to FIG. 3, the guide 48 preferably includes a freely rotatablepulley 47 mounted to an axle 52. The axle 52 is pivotally mounted to theright side member 58 of the trailer 14 with a pivot bolt 60 that allowsthe pulley 47 to pivot towards and away from the right side member 58.The right guide 48 also preferably includes a bumper 66 which helps inguiding the boat 12 onto the trailer 14 without damaging a hull of theboat 12. Preferably, the bumpers 66 are constructed from a rubber orsoft polymeric material which has compressive characteristics. The leftguide 46 includes like components having the same reference charactersas the components of the right guide 48

The winch system 10 is positionable between a first position as bestillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, wherein the left and right lines 32, 34and the loop 44 are taut between the left and right guides 46, 48.Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a spring biased clip 13 is fixedly attachedto a bow 11 of the boat 12. As the boat 12 is piloted over a rearwardend 59 of the trailer 14, the clip 13 engages the taut loop 44 betweenthe left and right lines 32, 34. With the clip 13 secured to the loop44, the boat 12 is secured for reeling onto the trailer 14. The winch 16preferably is in an unlocked position such that the force of the boat 12allows the winch 16 to rotate as the boat 12 is propelled towards thewinch 16 as illustrated in FIG. 7. As the winch 16 rotates, the lengthof the middle line 36 decreases while the lengths of the left and rightlines 32, 34 increase.

With the bow 11 of the boat 12 proximate the winch 16 as illustrated inFIG. 8, the pilot of the boat 12 can walk to the bow 11 and grab ahandle 17 of the winch 16 and rotate the reel 19 such that the boat 12is brought to a fully forward position on the trailer 14 for furthersecurance. Besides a manual winch 16, the present invention alsoincludes an electric winch and a pneumatic winch either controlled atthe winch itself or remotely controlled from a distance away from thewinch.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, the winch system 10 is positioned in asecond position where the length of the middle line 36 has beenminimized while the lengths of the left and right lines 32 and 34 atemaximized by the reverse winding of the middle line 36 as compared tothe left and right lines 32 and 34 on the compartmentalized reel 19. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that the operator of the winch 16 cancontrol the distance that the boat is on the trailer between the guides46, 48 and the winch 16 and any position there between by the winchsystem 10 of the present invention. The bow 11 of the boat 12 can bemaintained in an intermediate position between the second securingposition as illustrated in FIG. 2 and the first engaging positionillustrated in FIG. 1 by rotating the winch 16 such that the distal end42 of the middle line 36 is a selected distance between the winch 16 andthe guides 46, 48. Because there is tension on all three lines 32, 34and 36, the boat 12 will be retained in the selected position by thetautness of the middle line 36 pulling the boat 12 toward the winch 16and the tautness of the left and right lines 32, 34 pulling the boat 12away from the winch 16 and towards the guides 46, 48. One skilled in theart will recognize the maximum distance that the boat 12 can be moved bythe winch system 19 of the present invention is a distance between theguides 46, 48 and the winch 16.

In operation, the boat 12 is preferably on a body of water having alanding site (not shown) and a dock or pier (not shown) positionednearby. The pilot preferably secures the boat 12 to the dock or pier(not shown) and transports himself/herself to the trailer 14 preferablyattached to a vehicle (not shown) and backs the trailer 14 into the bodyof water at the landing site such that the taut lines 32, 34, 36 and theloop 44 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 will engage the clip 13 attachedto the bow 11 of the boat 12. With the lines 32, 34, 36 and the loop 44in a taut arrangement, the winch 16 is unlocked such that the winch 16will freely rotate when force is applied to the lines 32, 34, 36 and theloop 44. With the trailer 14 secured in a selected position in the bodyof water, the pilot transports himself/herself back to the dock or pierand detaches the boat 12 from the dock or pier such that boat 12 can bemaneuvered through the water onto the trailer 14.

The pilot aligns the boat 12 with the taut loop 44 that connects thelines 32, 34, 36, and by driving the boat over the trailer forces thespring biased clip 13 into the loop 44 such that the clip 13 engagesloop 44, thereby attaching the boat 12 to the winch 16. The pilotpropels the boat 12 onto the trailer 14 causing the winch 16 to rotatewherein the left and right lines 32, 34 uncoil from the reel 19, and themiddle line 36 coils about the reel 19 as best illustrated in FIGS. 7and 8. Preferably, the bow 11 of the boat 12 is forced sufficiently nearthe winch 16 such that the pilot can walk to the bow 11 of the boat 12,grip the handle 17 on the winch 16, and turn the reel 19 to move theboat to its most forward position for securing the boat 12 to thetrailer 14. The pilot then climbs out of the boat 12 and onto thetrailer 14 and walks on the trailer 14 onto the shore having secured theboat 12 to the trailer 14 without ever getting wet. The pilot thendrives the vehicle (not shown)away from the landing site with the boat12 properly aligned on the trailer 14 in tow.

The winch system 10 of the present invention has significant advantagesover the previous methods and apparatuses for securing a boat 12 to atrailer 14. One advantage is the fact that a single person can align andsecure the boat 12 onto the trailer 14 without the need of anotherperson. The prior method of having an eyelet (not shown) attached on thebow which is secured to a clip extending from a line coiled about awinch, causes significant issues for one person including maintainingcontrol of the boat 12 and having to enter into the water to secure theboat 12 to the eyelet (not shown). Additionally, when wind and wavesapply forces to the boat 12, it is difficult to align the boat 12 on thetrailer 14. If the boat 12 is misaligned on the trailer 14, the boat 12may become damaged or may have to be realigned on the trailer 14 to beable to travel on the road. The present invention provides an apparatusand method for one person to align and secure the boat 12 onto thetrailer 14 without having to get wet or leave the boat 12 when securingthe boat with the winch 16.

The present invention is also in the form of a kit. The kit includes awinch and two guides for mounting onto the boat trailer. The two guidesare mounted onto the boat trailer rearward of the mounted winch and arespaced from each. The kit further includes first, second and third linesections with the first and second line sections for winding onto thereel of the winch in a first rotational direction and a third linesection for winding onto the reel of the winch in a second rotationaldirection opposite from the first rotational direction. All three linesare connected to each other at distal ends thereof.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 9, the winch system 100 of the presentinvention may be useful to move anything linearly a distance D betweenthe left and right guides 114, 116, respectively, and the winch 102. Thewinch system 100 has a similar configuration to the winch system 10 aspreviously described and includes a plurality of partitionedcompartments having a left compartment 104, a right compartment 106 anda middle compartment 108 separated by left and right partitions 110 and112. The winch 102 is mounted to a stable structure which also supportsthe left and right guides 114 and 116, respectively. Left and rightlines 118, 120 are coiled about a reel of the winch and the leftcompartment 104 and the right compartment 106, respectively, in a firstrotational direction. A middle line 122 is coiled about the middlecompartment 108 of the winch in a second rotational direction, oppositethe first rotational direction. The left and right lines 118, 120 areguided by the left and right guides 114, 116, preferably rotatablepulleys, toward the middle line 122 such that distal ends 124, 126 and128 of the left line 118, the right line 120, and the middle line 122are joined together where each of the lines are in tension.

Preferably, an engaging portion 130 is secured between the left line 118and the right line 120. One skilled in the art will recognize that thewinch device 100 of the present invention is useful to laterally moveany object secured to the engaging portion 130 a distance D defined bythe distance between the left and right guides 114, 116 and the winch102.

Referring to FIG. 10, the winch system 100 of the present invention canbe employed to both adjust a vertical position of a loader bucket 150and also to adjust a rotational position of the loader bucket 150. Likeelements in FIG. 10 will be referred to using like reference charactersthat were used in FIG. 9 for like elements.

The loader bucket 150 includes brackets on a left side and a right sideof the bucket, one of which is shown at 152. The loader bucket 150 ispivotally attached to a lifting frame 154 with a pivot pin 156 such thatthe loader bucket 150 pivots with respect to the lifting frame 154. Theloader bucket also includes an engaging arm 156 extending from theloader bucket 150 and having a through bore 158.

A front winch 102 is attached to a horizontal member 156 of the liftingframe 154 proximate the loader bucket 150 wherein the front winch 102includes the left compartment 104, the right compartment 106 and themiddle compartment 108 separated by left and right partitions 110 and112 wherein a left line 118 and a right line 120 are wound in a firstrotational direction within the left and right compartments 104 and 106,respectively. The left and right lines 118, 120 are guided by left andright guides 114 and 116, preferably rotating pulleys, that are mountedto the lifting frame 154.

Distal ends 124, 126 and 128 of the left line 118, the right line 120and the middle line 122, respectively, are joined together such thateach of the lines is taut with respect to each other. An engagingportion 130 is positioned through the through bore 158 and secures leftand right lines 118, 120 toward each other.

In operation, the winch 102, preferably an electric winch, is rotated ina first direction pulling or laterally moving the engaging arm 156towards the winch 102. As the engaging arm 156 is laterally movedtowards the winch 102, the middle line 122 shortens in length and theleft and right lines 118, 120 lengthen thereby exerting a force upon theengaging arm 156 with the engaging portion 130. The force on theengaging arm 156 causes the engaging arm 156 to laterally move, which inturn causes the loader bucket 150 to tilt or rotate about the pivot pin156, such that the rotational position of a loader bucket 150 can bemanipulated into a selected position. One skilled in the art willrecognize that the tilt of the loader bucket 150 is limited by thedistance from the guides 114, 116 to the winch 102.

A second back winch 103 is secured to a rigid frame 160 secured to avehicle 162 wherein the rigid frame 160 does not move with respect tothe vehicle 162. A second back winch 103, having the same configurationas the first front winch 102 is described using the same referencecharacters used to described the winch 102. The winch 103 is used toadjust the vertical position of the moving frame 154 and the loaderbucket 150.

The rigid frame 160 includes left and right extensions 164 and 166 thatextend toward the loader bucket 150 and have left and right guides 114and 116 secured thereto. The moveable frame 154 also includes a secondcross member 167 having an engaging arm 168 extending from thehorizontal member 167 and having a through bore 170. The engagingportion 130 is positioned through the through bore 170 and connects theleft and right lines 116, 118 to each other. Distal ends 124, 126, 128of the left line 118, the right line 120 and the middle line 122,respectively, are joined together such that each of the lines are tautwith respect to each other. The winding of the left, right and middlelines 118, 120 and 122 on the winch 103 is the same as previouslydescribed with reference to the winch 102.

Ends of the moveable frame 154 are pivotally attached to the rigid frame160 with pivot pins 172, 174 extending through brackets 176 and 178attached to the rigid frame 160 wherein the pivot pins 172, 174 extendthrough apertures (not shown) in the moving frame 154 such that themoving frame 154 pivots with respect to the rigid frame 160.

In operation, the operator can manipulate the second back winch 103 toraise or lower the loader bucket 150 by manipulating a lateral positionof the engaging arm 168 toward and away from the winch 103 attached tothe rigid frame 160. As the engaging arm 168 is moved, the moveableframe 154 pivots about the pivot pin 172, 174, thereby raising andlowering the loader bucket 150.

Similarly, the tilt or rotational position of the loader bucket 150 canbe adjusted by manipulating the first front winch 102 located proximatethe loader bucket 150 by coiling and uncoiling the lines 118, 120 and122 to adjust a lateral position of the engaging arm 156 relative to thewinch 102. As the engaging arm 156 is laterally moved, the loader bucket150 pivots about the pivot pin 156 to adjust a tilt of the loader bucket150.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the winch system 100 of thepresent invention allows a loader bucket to be attached to an ATV orother vehicle. The ATV or other vehicle does not require an expensivehydraulic system to provide the same positioning capabilities, ratherthe loader bucket is powered by an electric system already existing onthe vehicle.

Referring to FIG. 11, the winch system 100 of the present invention canalso be employed to adjust a vertical position of a scraper blade 200that is preferably attached to an ATV or a vehicle 202 with a rigidframe 206 extending from the front 204 of the vehicle 202. The scraperblade 200 includes left and right extensions 208 and 210 extendingtowards the vehicle 202 that engage left and right brackets 212 and 214,respectively. Pivot pins 216 and 218 pivotally attach the left and rightextensions 208 and 210 to the rigid frame 206.

The winch system 100 is attached to a cross member 220 proximate thefront end 204 of the vehicle 202. Left and right lines 118, 120 arecoiled in a first rotational direction about left and right compartments104, 106 of the winch 102, preferably an electric winch. A middle line122 is coiled in an opposite rotational direction about a middlecompartment 108 of the winch 102.

The left and right lines 118, 120 are guided by left and right guides226, 228 attached to left and right extensions 222 and 224, allrespectively, of the rigid frame 206. The left and right guides 226, 228guide the left and right lines 118, 120 such that the distal end 124,126, 128 of the left line 118, right line 120 and middle line 122 areattached such that each of the lines is taut with respect to each other.An engaging portion 130, attaching the left and right lines 118, 120, ispositioned through a through bore 230 within an engaging arm 232attached to the scraper blade 200.

In operation, the winch 12 is rotated in a first direction to draw theengaging arm 232 towards the winch 102 or the winch 102 is rotated in asecond direction to force the engaging arm 232 away from the winch 102.As the engaging arm 232 laterally moves, the scraper blade 200 pivotsabout the pivot pins 216, 218 thereby adjusting a height of the scraperblade 200.

Referring to FIG. 12, the winch system of the present invention can alsobe employed to laterally move any object including a dumpster 250. Anengaging arm 252, having a through bore 251, extends from the dumpster250. The engaging portion 130 of the winch system 100 is positionedthrough the through bore 251 to connect the winch 102 to the dumpster250.

The winch 12 is attached to a flat bed truck 256 wherein the winch 102is preferably electrically powered. The winch 102 includes a leftcompartment 104, a right compartment 106 and a middle compartment 108,and has a left line 118, a right line 120 coiled about the winch in theleft and right compartments 104, 106, respectively, in a firstrotational direction. The left and right lines are guided by left andright guides 114, 116 which are secured to the flat bed truck 256 andpreferably include rotatable pulleys. Distal ends 124, 126 of the leftand right lines 118, 120 are secured to a distal end 128 of a middleline 122 that is wound in a second rotational direction into the middlecompartment 108 of the winch 12 in a rotational direction opposite thefirst rotational direction.

With the dumpster 250 secured to the winch system 100, the operator canoperate the winch 102 to laterally move the dumpster 250 onto the flatbed truck 256. The winch system 100 can also be used to push thedumpster 250 off of the flat bed truck 256 by reversing the rotation ofthe winch 102 as previously described. One skilled in the art willrecognize that the winch system 100 of the present invention is able tolaterally move the dumpster 250 a distance from the left or right guides114, 116 to the winch 102 and can secure the dumpster in any positiontherebetween.

Although the winch system 100 of the present invention has beenillustrated in manipulating a loader bucket in FIG. 10, a scraper bladein FIG. 11 and a dumpster in FIG. 12, one skilled in the art willrecognize that the winch system 100 of the present invention can be usedto laterally move any object that is secured to the lines and issecurely positionable between any lateral position between the left andright guides 114, 116 and the winch 102. Further, if the object is beinglaterally moved and is rotatably connected to another object, thelateral motion of the object can be translated into a rotational orpivotal movement about a pivot point.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1-23. (canceled)
 24. An apparatus for laterally moving an objectcomprising: a winch mounted to a surface and wherein the winch comprisesat least three spaces for winding line including a left space, a middlespace and a right space; a first guide positioned a first selecteddistance from the winch; a second guide positioned a second selecteddistance from the winch; and a left line having a proximal end coiledabout the winch in a first rotational direction in the left space andbeing guided by the first guide; a right line having a proximal endcoiled about the winch in the first rotational direction in the rightspace and being guided by the second guide; and a middle line coiledabout the winch in an opposite rotational direction in the middle spaceand wherein distal ends of the left line, the right line and the middleline are joined such that the object engages the distal end and whereinas the winch is rotated in a first direction, the left and right linesuncoil from the winch while the middle line coils about the winch,thereby laterally moving the object toward the winch. 25-28. (canceled)29. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the object is a boat, the boathaving a clip attached to a bow and wherein the clip is engagable withthe distal end of the lines such that the boat is secured to the linesso that it can be winched.
 30. The apparatus of claim 24 where the linesare in a substantially taut state for engagement with the clip on theboat.
 31. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first guide comprises afirst pulley.
 32. The apparatus of claim 31 and wherein the first pulleyis pivotally mounted to a left side member.
 33. The apparatus of claim24 and wherein the second guide comprises a second pulley.
 34. Theapparatus of claim 33 and wherein the second pulley is pivotally mountedto a right side member.
 35. The apparatus of claim 24 and wherein thethird line section comprises a loop at a distal end and wherein thedistal ends of the left and right lines slidably engage the loop. 36.The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the first and second guides aremounted a selected distance rearwardly of the winch and are spaced fromeach other.
 37. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first and secondlines are connected to the third line via a looped line section suchthat the first and second lines are slidably connected to the thirdline.
 38. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the distal ends of thefirst, second and third lines are in a substantially taut configurationfor engagement with the clip of the boat.